Hall of Fame Class 1998
Dick Connor, Contributor (1954-61)
Sports Illustrated writer Rick Reilly recalled legendary Denver sportswriter Dick Connor in the following fashion:
"The thing I'll always remember about him was the bigger event, the smaller was his focus...I remember when the Broncos beat Oakland in Mile High Stadium for the AFC championship...There was some guy in the top row who just say there for several hours after the game and wouldn't leave the stadium. So Dick wrote about him and it just perfectly captured the moment."
Connor, Jr. died in Arvada on December 30, 1992. I remember how I felt when I found out he was gone. I was working as an assistant sports information director at Metro State and, as a Colorado native, I knew we had lost a fabulous sportswriter and, more importantly, a great man.
Dick was simply the epitome of what it meant to be a good writer. He was Colorado Sports Writer of the year 22 times, including a span of 18 straight years from 1974-91. His columns reflected his genuineness and compassion--he was never one to stir up controversy simply for controversies sake.
Connor was an alumni of the college and had served as Sports Information Director in the late 1950s. In fact, Connor had been publicist for the entire school, beginning in his senior year. Regis was proud of what Connor did after leaving the school--so proud that, in 1989, it honored him with the Alumni Achievement Award.
This isn't the first time a Hall of Fame is honoring Conor--he's already enshrined in the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall with luminaries like Red Smith, Jim McKay and Chris Shenkel. Something tells me through that Dick might be most proud of today's induction. He was a man of deep roots. Connor covered the most important sporting events the world has to offer, including 26 straight Super Bowls, the Masters Golf Tournament, the British Open and U.S. Open Golf Tournaments and many more.
John Conway, Contributor (1950-2007)
He was the official "voice" of Regis University Athletics, a job he had faithfully carried out since 1982 before turning over the microphone in 2007. He's the one who informs the crowds at Ranger volleyball, basketball and baseball games who made the basket, who's starting the game, where the concession stand is. He's the most heard person at any RU game. John Conway will indeed extoll the virtues of Regis Athletics. You will never, however, hear John blow his own horn.
Conway is a successful Denver attorney in "real" life, having graduated with honors form the University of Denver College of Law in 1956. He served as a Colorado Assistant Attorney General from 1960-64, is a national lecturer on cooperative law and has been a practicing attorney for a total of 40 years. To top it off, he has had 47 wedding anniversaries with his wife, Margie, and he has raised six children and has six grandchildren.
Conway has been named alumnus of the year by the Regis Student Body three times (1984, 1989-90,1996-97) and received the RU Alumni Service Award in 1986. He's been a member of the Regis Alumni Board since its inception, and is currently Vice-Chair of the group.
As a student, Conway was exemplary. He played only one year of basketball as a center on the freshmen team (when I wasn't on the bench," he says) but he was an academic star. He earned the Carleton J.H. Hayes History Award, the Ranger's Who's Who Award and graduated with honors in 1954.
Tony DuCros, Men’s Basketball (1972-76)
DuCros was most recently inducted into the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in 2016 as he still owns the all-time rebounding record.
It seems that rebounding has always been a way of life for DuCros. As a teen in the late 1960s, he often found himself in trouble with authorities. Thanks to the help of good friends, he rebounded and ultimately found himself at Regis College. From the first time he stepped on the floor of the Regis Fieldhouse basketball court, his skill became apparent to all. DuCros could hit the boards--and do it in big-time fashion.
During his four-year stint at Regis, DuCros grabbed a record-setting 1,451 rebounds, breaking the previous mark of 948. DuCros' mark still tops the Regis Men's Basketball record books to this day.
During his prolific sophomore season in 1973-74, DuCros not only set the single-season mark for rebounds with 447, he also set the record for most rebounds in a game with 33 against Wayne State. It was also during his sophomore year that DuCros established the single-season record for most rebounds per contest, racking up an unbelievable 17.9 boards per game. For half the season he led the nation in rebounding. He eventually finished second behind the former Denver Nugget Marvin (The "Human Eraser") Webster.
A Regis rebounding legend, DuCros ended his stellar career with a record average of 14.8 rebounds per game-a mark which is unlikely ever to be broken.
DuCros' penchant for hitting the boards paid off with various honors and awards throughout his career. He was a four-time All-NAIA District VII selection, was named first team All-RMAC three straight seasons, was listed among the "Outstanding Athletes of America" from 1974-76 and earned academic All-RMAC in 1973. Regis students recognized his talents as well, naming him the school's Athlete of the Year in 1976. After graduating, DuCros' athletic ability earned him try-outs from both the Denver Nuggets and the NFL's Seattle Seahawks.
While a professional athletic career wasn't in the cards, DuCros still has enjoyed great success as a teacher in the Jefferson County Schools.
Joe B. Hall, Men’s Basketball (1959-64)
When I think of Joe B. Hall, I picture a man who has always been cordial and kind to me whenever and wherever I've run into him.
Coach Hall gained fame and fortune at the University of Kentucky in the 1970s but it was at Regis where I believe he developed and refined the traits that would ultimately lead to the 1978 NCAA National Championship.
The stories I've heard about Coach Hall, both from him and from others, tell me that he was a young man driven to succeed back in 1959 when he first came to Regis. Coaching basketball was only part of his package back then. He cleaned the swimming pool, polished the floor, scrubbed lockers--anything he could do to enhance his program's image.
His work helped persuade the Regis administration that a new gymnasium was sorely needed, and in 1960 Coach Hall helped christen the Regis Fieldhouse--the same building the athletic department occupies today.
When he left Regis, Coach Hall went to Central Missouri State and then found himself back at Kentucky as an assistant to the legendary Adolph Rupp. It was the perfect scenario for Joe--he had grown up just a few miles from the Kentucky campus and had played for the Wildcats. I am sure he was in basketball heaven.
When Rupp was forced to retire, Joe had the unenviable task of replacing him. He did it with customary class and hard work. It paid off with the national title.
That success did not change Joe B. Hall. He always had time for the "little" guy, no matter who else was around him. that is a quality I've always tired to emulate because so often, the little guy Joe had time for was me.
I'm so proud of Coach Hall now that he's come in "full circle" and is being honored by the school where it all started for him. He's truly deserving.
By Lonnie Porter, Former RU Men's Basketball Coach
1988 Volleyball Team
In 1988, the Rangers came of age and a national power was born. Since that season, Regis has been in the NCAA Tournament eight times and still has advanced to four Elite Eight National Tourneys. But the 1988 team still holds the distinction of advancing farther at the nationals than any other RU squad--with a fourth-place finish.
The one constant throughout the last ten years has been head coach Frank Lavrisha. Lavrisha was in only his third year in 1988, but had already tasted success in 1986, leading the Rangers to an NCAA appearance that season. In 1988, Lavrisha had the pleasure of coaching a team that consisted mainly of players he had recruited. His ability to build a cohesive unit dedicated to a common cause--strengths he displays to this day--would pay huge dividends.
In 1988, Lavrisha watched as the Rangers won eight straight matches to begin the season and completely dominated the Continental Divide Conference with a 14-0 record. Five players earned all-conference accolades, including freshman setter Irene Arguelles. Arguelles would go on to become the NCAA's (all divisions) all-time leading setter with 6,951 assists. She was inducted into the RU Hall of Fame last year as part of the inaugural class.
Joining Arguelles on a star-studded list were Corrine Donnelly, Candee Broadhurst, Collette Freeman, Julie Jaszai, Nicole Paolucci, Vicki Mulhern, Sandy Haynes, Dyanna DeCola, Kelly Carruthers, Leta Hanson and Laura Eldridge.
Space prohibits listing the individual accomplishments of each player. Regardless, all of them should be aware of one fact--it was their dedication to excellence that has kept a program at the top of the heap.
